Today's News-Wednesday, July 16th

Ramirez death ruled homicide

The death of Luis Ramirez has been ruled a homicide. Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn conducted an autopsy yesterday at Lehigh Valley Medical Center on the 25-year-old man who died from injuries in a fight Saturday night in Shenandoah. State and local police, along with investigators from the county DA's office have been conducting interviews about the incident. No charges have been filed against any suspects. Shenandoah Mayor Tom O'Neill expressed his feelings on "The Pulse" on WPPA Tuesday morning:

O'NEILL

Fire investigation continues

The State Police Fire Marshal was at the scene of the 1912 building fire in Schuylkill Haven Tuesday to try and determine what caused the blaze that heavily damaged the abandoned building on the campus of Rest Haven last Saturday. Troopers Michael Kowalick and Marvin Armistead scoured the building with Schuylkill Haven fire officials. A report is expected sometime today in the suspicious fire.

Break in and assault in Pottsville

Two men are charged in a break in at a Pottsville home early Monday. City police were called to 311 West Norwegian Street around 2am, where Michael Kane of Pottsville and 20 year old Daniel Saranchak the Third of Port Carbon broke in and assaulted a juvenile male who was sleeping. The victim had to be treated at Good Samaritan Hospital A wallet with cash was taken. Saranchak admitted to the crime and identified Kane as the other attacker. Both were arraigned on charges of burglary, robbery and simple assault. The men are in Schuylkill County Prison.

Rendell vetoes spot assessment bill

County legislators vow to press on in their efforts to ban spot property assessments after Governor Ed Rendell vetoed the bills. Senator Jim Rhoades and Representative Tim Seip, prime sponsors of the bills in their respective chambers, would restrict the right of taxing authorities to appeal property assessments. Those appeals increase property tax revenues. Seip says that his and Rhoades' efforts to get the bills through are not over:

SEIP

Rendell says that the bills are not a good idea because the spot assessments generate revenue for school districts and local and county government. The Governor's veto could be overturned if the House and Senate approve them with a two-thirds majority.

County Idol contest continues

The Schuylkill County Idol competition is down to six contestants. Allie Raring has more:

IDOL


READING, Pa. (AP) - The former Lykens police chief has pleaded guilty to a theft count for losing drug money. Chris Wade failed to properly account for more than $3,000 seized in drug investigations when he was police chief in Lykens. Dauphin County Assistant District Attorney Jenni Henley Allen says there is no evidence that Wade spent the money, only that he took it and then couldn't find it. Defense lawyer Allan Sodomsky says the plea is only an admission that Wade failed to handle funds properly. Prosecutors have agreed not to object to a sentence of probation for the Hamburg resident. Wade also acknowledged that he falsely stated he had never been arrested when he applied for a police job in 2003. He had a prior arrest that was dismissed for a lack of evidence.

WARREN, Pa. (AP) - A Pittsburgh-area man and his brother are dead after one tried to save the other from drowning in a northwestern Pennsylvania reservoir. State police in Warren County say 21-year-old Vincent Pitcher jumped into the Allegheny Reservoir from the shore line and swam out to save his 19-year-old sibling Stephen Pitcher on Tuesday afternoon. Police say Stephen Pitcher moments earlier had jumped about 75 feet from a bridge into the water and appeared to be injured when his brother swam out to try to help him.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - An Erie man has been convicted of raping a 53-year-old mentally disabled woman last year. A jury on Tuesday found 26-year-old Carlos Bryant guilty of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated assault and other charges.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A 15-year-old Pittsburgh boy is accused of fatally shooting a man at a bar last month. Gary Milligan is charged with homicide and carrying a firearm without a license in
the June 19 shooting death of 23-year-old Brandon Alton. Police say Milligan and Alton were among two groups of friends who got into an argument at a bar on Mount Washington.

McKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a 4-year-old boy playing with sparklers started a fire last week that destroyed two suburban Pittsburgh apartments and forced 51 residents to evacuate. McKeesport Fire Chief Kevin Lust says the boy's mother told a firefighter her son lit a sparkler and then dropped it on a bed on Friday morning.

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her son has been ordered to have a psychological evaluation and promise to comply with a court order. Lisa Miceli of Meadville is accused of violating a court order that barred her from contacting the former NBA star, his family or his representatives.

ROSH HANIKRA, Israel (AP) - Israeli forensic experts are working to positively identify two sets of remains turned over by Hezbollah today. If they turn out to be Israeli soldiers captured two years ago, Israel will return five Lebanese prisoners to Hezbollah.

WASHINGTON (AP) - It's another day of testimony for Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. He'll meet with the House Financial Services Committee, after telling a Senate panel yesterday the country's economy faces "numerous difficulties" right now.

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a huge turnaround from past Bush administration policy, the third-highest U.S. diplomat will join in talks with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in Switzerland this
weekend. But the two won't meet separately and a senior U.S. official says it's not a nuclear negotiating session.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A Charles Manson follower who is dying of brain cancer will not get compassionate release from a California prison. Her husband says Susan Atkins can't even sit up
in bed. But the sister of actress Sharon Tate, who was killed by Atkins in 1969, calls her a cold-blooded remorseless woman.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A two-decade ban on people with HIV visiting or immigrating to the U.S. may end soon through a Senate bill. The bill is aimed at fighting AIDS and other diseases around the world. The U.S. is one of only a dozen countries that ban travel and immigration for HIV-positive people.